HP DeskJet 4120e: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP DeskJet 4120e right for you?

The DeskJet 4120e is the UK and European name for the 4155e, using HP 305 cartridges and shipping with the same 35-sheet document feeder. It is the go-to recommendation for a cheap home printer that can scan a multi-page document to email, and it is frequently discounted with six months of Instant Ink. The feeder and tray share the 60-sheet limit of the rest of the family, so it is not a substitute for a proper office machine.

Best for: UK and European home offices needing cheap ADF scanning

Setting up the HP DeskJet 4120e

Set up through HP Smart on a phone with Bluetooth enabled and choose the correct country for Instant Ink terms. The 4120e can use 5 GHz Wi-Fi but 2.4 GHz is more forgiving at range and through walls. If the document feeder scans come out with a black band, clean the narrow glass strip to the left of the main flatbed.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use HP's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The HP DeskJet 4120e uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 305 Black
• HP 305 Tri-colour
• HP 305XL high-yield

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications